Auction Catalogue

15 December 2011

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 1060

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15 December 2011

Hammer Price:
£1,000

A Great War M.C. group of ten awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel G. W. McFadyean, Somerset Light Infantry, late Royal Field Artillery and City of London Yeomanry

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; 1914-15 Star (1912 Cpl., C. of Lond. Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Coronation 1937, these unnamed; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Territorial, reverse dated ‘1950’, unnamed, with ‘GVIR’ clasp, some with contact marks, nearly very fine and better (13) £1000-1400

M.C. London Gazette 26 September 1917. ‘2nd Lt., R.F.A., Spec. Res.’; citation London Gazette 9 January 1918.

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During a heavy hostile bombardment of the battery position four of the gun pits were set on fire and the ammunition was beginning to explode, when he and a brother officer at once organised a party, and whilst water was being procured, entered the burning pits and removed the dial sights from the guns. They then returned to extinguish the fire. During the whole of this time the bombardment was intense and accurate, and their promptness and gallantry saved the battery from being put out of action.’

Gavin Whalley McFadyean entered the Egypt theatre of war as a Corporal in the City of London Yeomanry on 7 May 1915. He was discharged to a commission in the Royal Field Artillery (Special Reserve) on 15 December 1915. As a 2nd Lieutenant in the R.F.A. he was awarded the M.C. for bravery and leadership in action. Listed as wounded during the course of the war. Advanced to Lieutenant in July 1917 and served as Acting Captain.

Captain McFadyean was awarded the Coronation Medal 1937 as Vice-President of the Somerset County Committee. McFadyean returned to service during the Second World War, being commissioned a Lieutenant in the Somerset Light Infantry, 2 September 1939. He was appointed a War Substantive Major and Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in March 1946. Later ranked as an Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment. As Lieutenant-Colonel in the Somerset Light Infantry he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration and 1st Clasp in 1950 (
London Gazette 17 February 1950). With copied m.i.c., gazette and roll extracts.

With Royal Drawing Society Medals (2), silver and 9ct. gold, hallmarks for 1937, reverse inscribed, ‘M. McFadyean, 1938’; another, silver and bronze, reverse inscribed, ‘M. McFadyean, 1937’; with identity disk, ‘W22648 M. McFadyean, C. of E.’ These with the booklet, ‘Standing Orders for Drivers of Mechanical Vehicles (Wheeled) and Motor Cyclists’, named to ‘McFadyean, M., 6th Western Motor Coy. A.T.S. ... 14 Deehills Park, Chester.’ With a number of original photographs, some contained in an album.